[The dynamic hip screw (DHS) in femoral neck fractures]

Out of 224 patients with femoral neck fractures, 40 patients have been treated by ORIF with the dynamic hip screw, whereas 27 have been fixed by large cancellous bone screws and 148 femoral heads were replaced by a prosthesis. The ORIF with dynamic hip screw has been performed as an emergency intervention within 6.2 hours after accident. Good general condition without contraindication against an emergency operation as well as a biological age below 65 years and no pre-existing coxarthrosis are mandatory for the indication for open rigid internal fixation. Personal follow-up of 37 patients with x-ray documentation after at least 18 months (mean 35.4 months) showed complete rehabilitation in 31 patients and 4 femoral head necrosis (10.8%). We conclude that these good results are due to the short interval between accident and operation as well as to the evacuation of the intraarticular hematoma together with stable internal fixation and functional rehabilitation. Due to our good results we prefer long cancellous bone screws for the operative fixation of femoral neck fractures in younger patients, whereas in the older group the dynamic hip screw is preferred.